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Battle of New Orleans – was fought between December 14, 1814, and January 18, 1815, constituting the last major battle of the War of 1812. American forces commanded by Major GeneralAndrew Jackson, prevented a much larger British force, commanded by AdmiralAlexander Cochrane and General Edward Pakenham, from seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the Louisiana Purchase. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed on December 24, 1814 (but was not ratified by the US Government until February 1815), and fighting continued without the involved parties knowing about the Treaty, until January 18 by which time all of the British forces had retreated, finally putting an end to the Battle of New Orleans.

Guy Bannister – FBI agent, an Assistant Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, and private investigator who New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison made allegations that he had been involved in the JFK assassination.

Danny Barker, musician. American jazz musician, vocalist, and author from New Orleans. He was a rhythm guitarist for various bands of the day, including Cab Calloway, Lucky Millinder and Benny Carter throughout the 1930s.

Beauregard-Keyes House and Gardens – 1113 Chartres St., 523-7257 – Mansion home to Confederate General P.T. Beauregard and later, novelist Francis Parkinson Keyes was built in 1827. Open 10-3 daily. (M-4)

Benny Grunch (Benjamin Antin) Musician, Noo Aw-lins Cult-cha expert and storyteller. Most famous for his 12 Yats of Christmas and Ain’t dere No More.

Betsy (Hurricane Betsy) struck the New Orleans area September 9, 1965 as a Category 3 storm. Levee breaches flooded parts of Gentilly, the Upper Ninth Ward, and the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans as well as Arabi and Chalmette . Until Katrina it was “Da Stawm”

Bienville (Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville). Explorer considered to be the founder of New Orleans. In 1717 that he had discovered a crescent bend in the Mississippi River which he felt was safe from tidal surges and hurricanes (the first dry spot he could find, later known as the French Quarter) and proposed that the new capital of the colony be built there. Bienville founded New Orleans on May 7, 1718. Bienville Books

Mr. Bingle– Snowman puppet created by Maison Blanche in an advertising campaign to promote kiddy toys. New Orleans Christmas icon for baby boomers looking to catch the latest toys to add to Santa’s list.﻿

Brownie – A heck of a job by the federal government during Katrina. Inspired by George W. Bush’s comments to FEMA head Michael Brown who despite the lethargic response by the agency, Bush told Brown, “you’re doing a heck of a job Brownie”.

Buddy D ( Bernard “Buddy” Diliberto)- World famous Yat icon. Noted Sportswriter (Times-Picayune, Clarion Herald) and TV and Radio Sportscaster. Famous for creating the tradition of wearing a bag on one’s head in protest of one’s teams pitiful performance (see 1980 New Orleans Saints). The successor to Hap Glaudi as host of the Point (Pernt) After sports radio show on WWL-am. Buddy died in early 2005 (Thank gawd before Katrina) never to fulfill his dream of wearing a dress if the Saints won a Superbowl. A New Orleans legend.

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Bunny Matthews – New Orleans cartoonist and expert in cultcha best known for icons ” Vic and Nat’ly, Nint Wawd residents and the most famous couple in New Orleans.

James Booker, musician. New Orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist born who’s unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. Flamboyant in personality, he was known as “the Black Liberace” and The Bayou Maharaja”

Buddy Bolden, musician, early jazz figure. Bolden was a cornetist who was regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of rag-time music, or “jass”, which later came to be known as jazz. Buddy BoldenBooks

Drew Brees, football player, New Orleans Saints. A god in New Orleans. “Breesez”, the savior of Saints football. Came to the city in the ruins of Katrina in 2006 and quarterbacked the Saints to the NFC Championship game in 2006 and to the promised land of the Super Bowl Championship in 2010. Still going strong approaching 40.